"Demi Vollering faces setbacks as she once more ends up in second place at the Tour de France Femmes"
The final stage of the Tour de France Femmes saw a thrilling finish, with a group of five riders battling it out for the top spots. Among them was Demi Vollering, who had won the 2023 edition of the race but finished second in this year's event.
Vollering found herself behind Pauline Ferrand-Prevéot, who attacked with seven kilometers to go in the final stage, leaving her rivals little chance to respond. Despite this setback, Vollering finished the race just 3 minutes and 42 seconds behind Ferrand-Prevéot in the overall standings.
The 2023 Tour de France Femmes winner expressed her motivation to analyze and improve for future attempts, acknowledging the unpredictable nature of the race and the possibility of the course favoring different rider profiles each year.
Vollering's 2025 performance suggests that she will need to regain form and adapt tactics to the course and rivals to reclaim the title in 2026. She did not specify any particular changes she would like to see in the 2026 Tour de France Femmes course.
However, Vollering is looking ahead to the 2026 Tour de France Femmes with hopes that the course will play to her versatility. She maintains a positive approach focused on health and sustainable athleticism rather than extreme measures, which may support her longevity and future success.
Her strong team support and values, emphasizing resilience and hard work after setbacks, further bolster her capacity to contend again. Vollering did not mention any other upcoming races or events.
In the 2023 Tour de France Femmes, Vollering did not express any regret or disappointment about her performance. Instead, she emphasized the importance of having various skills for a successful rider, beyond just being a good climber.
Although Vollering did not comment on the competition in the 2023 Tour de France Femmes, she did note that the race was characterized by intense and widespread competition at the top. The 2023 Tour de France Femmes was characterized as favoring pure climbers, according to Vollering.
In the final stage of the 2025 Tour de France Femmes, Vollering had to settle for second place. However, her prospects for winning the 2026 Tour de France Femmes remain strong but uncertain, shaped by her 2023 victory and her more recent performances showing some challenges to overcome.
References: 1. BBC Sport 2. Cycling News 3. Voxwomen 4. Velonews 5. Cycling Weekly
Sports can be unpredictable, as evidenced by Demi Vollering's second-place finish in the 2025 Tour de France Femmes, despite her winning the edition in 2023. In preparation for the 2026 Tour de France Femmes, Vollering is hopeful that the course will favor her versatility, aiming to reclaim her title with a focus on health and sustainable athleticism, while also adapting to any challenges posed by her rivals.
